Harlem Goes Back to Back in Australian Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday March 9

After winning last year's Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington as $61 chance, Lindsay Park's import Harlem (GB) again drove a stake through the hearts of punters when he claimed the race again on Saturday as a $31 chance.

In a driving finish, Harlem defied the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh (Savabeel) by a short half-head with Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice)) a length away in third. (images Grant Courtney)

Advertisement


There were few happier than Jockey Jamie Kah who celebrated her first Group 1 success after recently moving her tack to Victoria from South Australia.

"I'm speechless. That is just the best feeling in the world," Kah told AAP.

"I didn't expect anything massive straight away so I tried to get to Euroa as much as I could and whenever they wanted me for jump-outs. And it's paid off.

"They supported me in Adelaide and asked when I was coming over here and make the leap.

"I knew it was going to be hard and I didn't think it would have so soon."

Cp trainer David Hates said Harlem came in to the race in terrific shape.

"He showed incredible fight, he was beaten twice and kicked back," David Hayes said.

"I thought he was in terrific form, but I thought a few of them were.

"He goes well at Flemington and at the 2000 metres and it was a great ride by Jamie, an 11 out of 10 ride."

A 7yo gelding, Harlem advances his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $2,295,702.

A 520,000 guineas purchase by Astute Bloodstock's Louis Le Metayer with UK agent Alastair Donald at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Harlem is a son of 3-time Group 1 winner Champs Elysees (Danehill), a winning full-brother to Dansili and Cacique.

He was trained in Europe by Andre Fabre to win a Longchamp maiden over 2400m before a Listed stakes win over the same trip at Vichy.

Also placed at Group II and Group III level in France, Harlem made his first start in Australia March 2017 with an excellent third behind Palentino and Tosen Stardom (JPN) in the Group II Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

A half-brother to the stakes-placed Shearling (Rail Link), Harlem is out of the Nayef mare Casual a 3-time winner in Ireland up to one and a half miles.

Casual is a half-sister to Listed winner Rich Coast (King's Best) from the family of Alwyn Park Stud stallion Trade Fair (GB).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Wootton Bassett Winning Whirl
It was a red letter day for Wootton Bassett (GB) at The Curragh overnight with a treble of winners highlighted by top class filly Whirl, who captured the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes (1m2f), a race won by the mighty Via Sistina in 2023.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Exoteric Toughs it out in ATC Cup
With the short-priced favourite Savacool being eased out of the race due to cardiac arrhythmia, Saturday’s Listed ATC Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens was fought out by four tough old warriors with Savacool’s stablemate Exoteric (GB) enjoying his day in the sun.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.